Disk wheel



6. 'H. FORSYTH.

DISK WHEEL. APPLICATION HLED APR-2.1920- Phtented May 3, 1921.

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, INVENTOR:

GEORGE H. F'ORSYTH ATTORN ms" GEORGE H. ronsYrrr, or oHIcAe'o, I LLINors- DISK WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent. -1 atented May 3, 1921.

Application filed April 2, 1920. Serial No. 370,629.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. FORSYTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Disk Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

By reason of the growlng scarcity of materials suitable for employment in the making of wood wheels and the rapid deterioration of the same under stress of weather and" liability to damage by rough usage, they are coming into disfavor; the'wire wheel has many ob ectionable features inherent in its manufacture and employment; the steel wheel of spokeor artillery type, while 7 detail the wheel of the present invention desirable from many points of view, is very expensive to manufacture; while the current type of steel disk wheels, if suiiiciently strong, are heavy, unsightly, and lacking in resiliency or sprmginess.

The steel disk wheel is recognized as the type most cheaply constructed and as having many advantages, but it has not met with favor for other than heaVywork such ason trucks and the llke, being undesirable on pleasure cars for the reason briefly indicated above and due to a failureto utilize the metal to the best advantage for spring resistance to radial and lateral stresses.

The primary object of the present invention is to so redesign the steel disk wheel as to retain or even to reduce its recognized low cost of production; to lncrease 1ts actual strength under stresses of use by utilizing tothe best advantage the inherent resilience of the metal, while reducing the actual weight and at the same time imparting an appearance of lightness and symmetry suit able to a pleasure car.

In order that the invention in its various aspects may be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art, a preferred embodiment of the invention as well asdetailed modifications are set forth hereinafter by way of description and exemplified in the accompanying drawings. It will be readily appreciated, however, that the description and drawings are illustrative only, and are not to be taken in an unnecessarily limiting sense. In the drawings I Figure 1 is a vertical section through a formation;

Fig. 3 is 'a view similarto Fig. 2 but showlng tSllght modification of the surface F ig. 45 is a fragmentaryvertical section through the upper portion of the wheel illus trating a modification of that shown in Fig.1; e p

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are fragmentary sections of modifications taken through the periph eral portions ofa wheel and illustrating an adaptation of the invention for use in connection with a Q. D. tire asdistinguished from a clencher rim; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail of the ring securing device. Q i Having reference to the drawings more in taining r1ng"member. -The wheel may be used with or without a rim of the Straightside or clencher type or any other recogni'zed means of mounting the tire thereon.

As illustrated, the hub 11 has formed integrally therewith a rear hub plate 12 pro- I viding immediately contiguous to the hub an outwardly facing groove 13, and near its pe riphery another groove,channel or depres sion 14:, which latter may be constructed as a series of pockets or recesses. Associated with the hub also is a front hub plate 15 therewith. The peripheral portion of the I fhub plate 12 is provided at the bottom of the outer depression with spaced threaded apertures for the receptionof bolts in threaded engagement therewith for a purpose to be hereinafter referred to. p The disk indicated generally at 17 presents in its medial portion a forwardly concave face extending 111' a sweeping curve from the I I periphery of the hub'plates to a point 19 adjacent the wheel periphery as shown, the

deepest portion of the concavity is shown as substantiallyin the plane ofimpact of the wheel,the entire disk with the exception of the felly lying at one side of said plane; this havin been found to be most advanta eous b z; p

although not essential. g

The central portion of the disk is disposed between the hub plates and is provided with bolt apertures in register with the depression '14 and the threaded apertures in the bottom of the said depression or recesses. I

The inner edge of the disk is flanged rearwardly as shown at 20, and the flange is accommodated within the groove 13 and has an extended bearing inwardly upon the slightly coned hub 11. The material of the disk is likewise flanged rearwardly about the bolt apertures as indicated at 21, each of said last mentioned flanges being accommodated within a depression l i.

The securing bolts 22 are threaded into the hub plate 12 from the rear and have mounted thereon in order a locking device in the form of a split washer 23, an interiorly threaded thimble 2a the lower portion of which is squared for operative engagement by a socket wrench or other tool, while the securing nuts 25 having flanged base 526 removably engage the ends of the bolts. It will be observed that the thimbles 23 protectively surround the threaded shank of the bolt between the same and the flanged portions 21 of the disk.

Prior to assemblage the metal of the disk overlying the hull plate 12 will be slightly convex outwardly and as the securing bolts 22 are drawn home the flattening of the metal of the disk between the inner marginal flange 20 and the bolt flanges 21, will spring the flanges so as to stress the same, and cause the disk to press inwardly against the hub and outwardly against the thimbles, while the flattening of the metal and the riding of the flanges 20 upwardlyupon the sli htly coned hub places the entire disk under radial. compressive stress. ency, also,'of the flattened metal to resume its original convexity maintains a forward spring pressure on the front hub plate which serves as an eiiicient lock against the loosening of the nuts 25.

Immediately adjacent the periphery of the hub plates the disk is provided with pockets 2'7 elongated radially. These pockets have abrupt inner walls 28 and gradually merge radially into the plane of the disk, the bottoms of the pockets being along a substantially straight radial line. These pockets may be of angular or wave concentric cross-section, and in either case function to reinforce the disk against radially applied stresses where the greatest resistance is needed, and the inner abrupt walls of the same preferably abut against the periphery of the rear hub plate and come into play as additional reinforcements against inwardly applied radial stresses before the elastic limit of the metal in the medial disk portion is reached. The bottom wall of the pockets of that wheel with which is assen bled the brake drum 29 also provides a reserve contact bearing between the disk and the drum.

Radially outward beyond the point 19, the

The tenddisk curves rearwardly and then outwardly along an S-curve to provide a groove 30 and thence again rearwardly, as shown in Fig. l, to form a convex arch 31, and again outwardly to form a rim or tire retaining marginal bead 32. The felly portion '31 crosses the plane of impact, and the bead 82 is on the rear side thereof.

At intervals the felly portion 31 is outwardly cupped to form inwardly concave pockets for the accommodation of the polygonal heads of the bolts 33 whereby the bolts are prevented from turning. The outer wall 3% of these pockets is disposed at a slight inclination to the horizontal to provide an inclined surface upon which the rim 35 rides as it is being mounted upon the wheel. These walls for the greater portion of their length are separated a slight distanee from the mounted rim, and serve as inner abutments to support the rim in case of extreme shock, exceedin the elastic limit of metal of the disk between the points 19 and 32, thereby transferring excessive shocks from the overhanging beaded edges of the felly and ring toward the medial plane of the disk for better support.

A rim-retaining ring 36 has a bead portion 3? which bears rearwardly and outward y upon the forward shoulder of the rim and also has an inner heel portion 38 which seats within the groove 30. It will be observed that this groove provides a sliding fulcrum bearing for the ring 36 whereby as the bolts 33 are tightened by the nuts 39, the ring not only exerts the usual transverse and radial force upon the outer edge of the rim, but the heel 38 moves rearwardly and radially along the curved wall of its seat whereby to additionally safeguard against deformation of the ring and to impart an added outward radial thrust to the forward of the run as well as an inward radial t to the medial portion of the disk.

n the bolts are preferably mounted washers 3s and also lock nuts 33", the

rving the additional function of init the rearward movement of the revent inequality of seating. iii 2 is illustrated the exterior apne rance of the wheel at its central portion due to the employment of the pockets 2?, of angular cross-section, thesame lending ornai ientation as well as the mechanical advantages heretefore pointed out; while in i. 3 is illustr ted the exterior appearance of the wheel where pockets of wave crosssection are employed.

in Fig. 4 a slight modification is shown in which the telly portion of the disk is arched inwardly as indicated at 31 instead of outwardly as at 31. This modification is advantageous under certain conditions as shifting the point of application of the greater bending stresses farther from the inner edge of the wheel and nearer the median plane thereof.

In Figs. 5, 6, and 7 is illustrated an 40 which is shown as integral with the wheel, and a removable half felly 41 having a portion 42 for attachment to the portion 43 of the wheel by means of securing bolts 44; also that the portions 42 and 43 are inclined at 42 and 43 and have a slide bearing one upon the other so that as the bolts 44 are tightened the portion 42 rides transversely and radially upon the portion. 43,

thus introducing a radial component of the laterally applied bolt tension which serves to effectively support the forward portion of the tire by the half felly and placing both the removable half felly and disk under radial tension. A gap is provided at 46 between the two felly halves so as to preclude the pinching of the tire therebetween.

In Fig. 7 felly halves are shown differently assembled in that the attaching por-,' tion 47 of the removable half is seated within a recess formed by the reversely bent portion 48 of the disk. The two halves have a limiting shoulder bearing at 49', and as the bolts are tightened the position of the felly half 41 is fixed, subject to the resiliency of the inclined hearing at 50 and 51. This also serves to tension the disk.

The form of felly shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 is adapted for use without a rim in connection with Q. D, straight side or clencher tires. It is also adapted, as before stated, to be used with a rim. I In connection with the felly construction of Fig. 6 I have illustrated a tire-carrying band 52 of thin metal upon which the tire may be carried, and which will facilitate the mounting of the tire upon the wheel. This band may be flat or it may be preferably provided with upstanding beads 53 for re-.v taming the tlre thereon when not in use.

ing the expense and weight involved in the carrying of demountable rims, and facilitating the mounting of a tire of that type so equipped as compared with a tire alone.

In Fig. 8 is shown a preferred manner of Y assembling the ring securing bolts and nuts.

Here the nut 53 has'a sleeve 54 entering the bolt aperture of the ring 36 to protect the bolt threads from deformation, the inner edge of the sleeve being beaded over .to preventwithdrawal while permitting of rotation, and thus safeguard against nuts being mislaid. p I

As most clearly shown in Fig.8, although apparent in Figs. land 4, the wall 34 of the .pocketsforms with the portion '31 ofthe 'felly a bracket construction whereby the overhangof the felly is materiallystrengthened against radial shocks even before the rim abuts the -wall 34 under abnormal shocks as hereinbefore pointed out.

Iclaim: j 1. In a wheel, the combination of a rear hub plate having a forwardly facing depression, a front hub plate overlying the rear hub plate, a disk having its central portion disposed between the plates and provided with bolt apertures in register with the depression, the material of the disk flanged rearwardly about the apertures, and clamping bolts transfixing the plate, disk and flange." I

2. In a-wheel, the combination of a rear hub plate having a forwardly facing depression, a front hub plate overlying the rear hub plate, a disk having its central por-' 1 tion disposed between the plates and provided with bolt apertures inregister with the' depression, the material of the disk flanged rearwardly about the apertures, clamping bolts transfixing the disk and plates, and thimbles on thebolts and lying between the flange of the diskand the bolts 3. In a wheel, the combination of a rear hub plate having a forwardly facing depression, a front hub plate-overlying the rear hub plate, a disk having its central portion disposed-between the plates and provided with bolt apertures in register with the depression, the material .ofthe disk flanged rearwardly about the apertures, and clamping bolts transfixing the disk and plates, and thimbles threaded on the bolts and lying within the: depression and between the flange. ofthe diskand'the bolts.

4. In a wheel, the combination of'a rear hub plate havinga forwardly facing depression, a front hub plate overlying therear hub plate, a diskhaving its central. portion disposed between the plates and provided with bolt apertures in register with the de-, pression, the material of the disk flanged rearwardly aboutthe apertures, clamping bolts transfixing the disk and plates,"thimbles threaded on the bolts and lying within the depression and between the flange of the disk and the bolts, and a lock washer disposed between the thimbleand rear plate.

5. In a wheel, thecombination of a rear hub plate having a forwardly facing annular depression, a front hub plate overlying the rear hub plate, a disk having its central portion disposed between the plates ant provided with bolt apertures in register with the depression, the material of. the disk flanged rearwardly about the apertures, clamping bolts transfixing the disk and plates, thimbles threaded on the bolts. and lying within the depression and between the flange of the disk and the bolts, and a lock washer disposed between the thimble and rear plate.

6. In a wheel, the combination of two hub plates provided with bolt apertures, a disk having its central portion disposed between the plates and provided with bolt apertures in register with the apertures of the plates, the material of the disk flanged inwardly at the apertures, and clamping bolts transfixing the plates and disk.

7. In a single disk wheel, the combination with a hub and telly portion, of an intermediate disk portion assembled with the hub under deforming stress whereby to place the disk under radial compression.

8. In a wheel, the combination of a fixed hub plate, a movable hub plate overlying a fixed plate, a disk having an arched inner portion disposed between the hub plates to clamp the same and thus place the disk under radial compression.

9. In a wheel, the combination of a fixed and movable hub plate, and a disk having a forwardly convex inner portion and a forwardly concave outer portion, the inner portion of the disk clamped between the hub plates to thus flatten the same and place and maintain the disk under radial compression. 7 10. In a wheel, the combination with a hub, and a felly portion adapted for receiving a demountable rim, of an intermediate disk portion assembled with the hub under deforming stress whereby to place the disk under radial compression, and means bearing upon the rim to position the same upon the folly.

11. In a wheel,-the combination with a hub and tell oortion and a forwardb con- 13. In a wheel, the combination with a hub, and a telly portion, of an intermediate 'isk portion assembled deforming stress whereby to place the disk under radial compression, the disk portion confined substantially within the planes of the front and rear edges or"- the telly.

1 In a wheel, the combination with a taper hub portion, of a disk having a central aperture to receive the hub, the disk and hub being assembled by forcing the inner portion or" the latter upwardly upon the taper off the hub whereby to place the disk under outwardly applied radial stress.

15. In a wheel, the combination with a hub or taper cross-section having a fixed hub plate extending radially therefrom, and a movable hub plate assembled -vith that portion of the hub of smaller diameter, a disk having a central aperture, adapted to take over the taper hub and to lit snugly thereon, said disk arched about its central aperture, and means to draw the movable hub plate toward the fixed hub plate toward the inner portion of the disk upwardly upon the taper of the hub and to flatten the arched portion thereof whereby to place and maintain the disk under radial compression outwardly applied.

16. In a wheel, the combination of fixed and movable hub plates, a disk having an archer inner portion clamped between the hub plates to flatten the same and thus maintain the disk under radial compression, the disk provided outwardly beyond the clamped portion adjacent the hub plates with radially elongated pockets for distributing radial stress over the medial portion or" the disk.

17. In a wheel, the combination of fixed and movable hub plates, a disk having a forwardly convex inner portion and aforwardly concave medial portion, the convex inner portion of the disk clamped between the hub plate to flatten the same and to place the disk under radial compression, said disk provided inwardly of its medial portion with radially elongated pockets disposed adjacent the periphery of the hub plate and gradually merging into the plane of the disk, whereby to strengthen the disk adjacent the hub plate and distribute compressive stress throughout the medial portion of the disk.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

'GEORGE E. FORSYTH. Witnesses:

Lnwrs '1. Gnnrsr, FRANCES K. GILLESPIE.

with the hub under 

